Underwater spear gun with elastic propelling member

ABSTRACT

An underwater spear gun having an elongated barrel adapted to support a spear and an elastic member having a forward end portion anchored by an end member to the forward end of said barrel and having a rearward end portion adapted to releasably engage said barrel supported shaft. The end member is secured to the forward end of the spear gun barrel and includes a part which projects below the barrel and which has a recess therein which is adapted to receive portions of a coiled cord having one end attached to the spear and the other end preferably attached to a convenient location on the spear gun. The end member includes a pair of depending lug parts which are laterally spaced from opposite sides of the barrel and which extend below and rearwardly of the point of securement of the elastic member to the barrel. The barrel has a longitudinal groove formed therein which is adapted to receive the barrel supported spear shaft in sliding engagement.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Grover E. Hendricks 2241 Lake St., Niles, Mich. 49120 [211 App]. No. 785,962

[22] Filed Dec. 23, 1968 [45] Patented .Illlle 22, 1971 [54] UNDERWATER SPEAR GUN WITH ELASTIC PROPELLING MEMBER 3 Claim, 10 Drawing Figs. I

[52] US. Cl. [24/22 R, 124/35 [51] 1nt.Cl F411: 7/04 [50] Fieldofsearch l24/22,2l, 25, 35, 41, 30-, 43/6 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,537,754 1/1951 Hanshaw 124/26 2,924,211 2/1960 McSwain... [24/30 X 3,172,226 3/1965 Andis 124/22 X 3,210,880 10/1965 Grenier 43/6 3,262,441 7/1966 Senne 124/22 3,320,941 5/1967 Houghton 124/30 X 3,265,054 8/1966 Gruenenfelder 124/22 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,386,459 12/1964 France 124/22 898,103 6/1944 France 124/22 'Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-William R. Browne Attorney0ltsch & Knoblock ABSTRACT: An underwater spear gun having an elongated barrel adapted to support a spear and an elastic member having a forward end portion anchored by an end member to the forward end of said barrel and having a rearward end portion adapted to releasably engage said barrel supported shaft. The end member is secured to the forward end of the spear gun barrel and includes a part which projects below the barrel and which has a recess therein which is adapted to receive portions of a coiled cord having one end attached to the spear and the other end preferably attached to a convenient location on the spear gun. The end member includes a pair of depending lug parts which are laterally spaced from opposite sides of the barrel and which extend below and rearwardly of the point of securement of the elastic member to the barrel. The barrel has a longitudinal groove formed therein which is adapted to receive the barrel supported spear shaft in sliding engagement.

UNDE RWATER SPEAR GUN WITH ELASTIC PROPELLING MEMBER SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an underwater spear gun of the sling-type having an elongated barrel adapted to support the shaft of a spear. A catch is mounted to the spear gun and includes a part adapted to releasably interlock with said barrel supported spear shaft. An elastic member serves to propel the spear from the gun and includes a forward end portion which is secured to the barrel and a rearward end portion which is adapted to releasably engage the barrel supported spear shaft.

This invention concerns an improvement in the abovedescribed underwater spear gun. The barrel of the spear gun has a longitudinal groove therein which extends substantially the entire length of the barrel and which is adapted to receive the barrel supported spear shaft in sliding engagement. An end member is mounted to the forward end of the barrel of the spear gun and serves to anchor the elastic member to the barrel. The end member includes a pair of depending lug parts which are laterally spaced from opposite sides of the barrel and a projecting part which extends below the barrel. The projecting part includes a forward marginal portion having a recess therein which is adapted to receive coiled portions of a spear retrieving cord having one end attached to the spear and the other end preferably attached to the gun. The lug parts of the end member preferably extend below the point of securement of the elastic member to the barrel and are positioned rearwardly of the recess in the projecting part of the end member and serve to prevent the cord from becoming fouled with the elastic member when the spear gun is fired.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an underwater spear gun of high accuracy.

It is another object of this invention to provide an underwater spear gun of the sling-type having means for preventing the spear retrieving cord from becoming fouled with the elastic member which serves to propel the spear from the gun.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an underwater spear gun of economical construction and of high reliability.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon a reading of the invention '5 description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of this invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the spear gun of this invention with the elastic and end members removed.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the spear gun of this invention loaded and ready-to-fire.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the spear gun of this invention loaded and ready-to-fire and having portions thereof broken away.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the spear gun of this invention loaded and ready-to-fire.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a front end view of the spear gun illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the spear gun illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The preferred embodiment illustrated is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It is chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its application and practical use to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention.

The spear gun illustrated includes a stock 10, a barrel 12 which extends forwardly from stock 10, and a hand grip 14 which is preferably positioned at the junction of the stock and barrel and which houses a trigger mechanism. The stock 10 and barrel 12 are preferably integral and may be formed by extrusion.

Barrel 12 includes a top part 16 having a longitudinal groove 18 therein which preferably extends from stock 10 to forward end face 20 of the barrel. Grove 18 preferably is round and is adapted to complementally receive a portion of the shaft 22 of a spear. Groove 18 at the forward end portion of the barrel preferably defines laterally spaced barrel parts 24 which protrude upwardly beyond outer surface 17 of top part 16 and include lips 26. Lips 26 are oppositely spaced and extend inwardly, as best shown in FIG. 5, so as to restrain the spear shaft 22 from lateral displacement when seated within the groove. Barrel 12 includes a bottom part 28 having a slot 30 which extends thereacross and inwardly from barrel end face 20. Barrel 12 preferably includes an intermediate part 32 which is reduced in cross section and which is separated from the top and bottom parts of the barrel by spaced shoulders 34.

An end member 36 is mounted to the forward end of barrel 12. End member 36 includes a housing 38 preferably having an end wall 40, sidewalls 42, a top wall 44 and a bottom wall 46 which cooperate to define a central bore 48. Central bore 48 is preferably interrupted by laterally spaced recesses 50. Top wall 44 has a longitudinal slot 52 formed therein which communicates with bore 48 and extends forwardly from end face 49 of the end member. The forward end portion of barrel bottom part 28 and intermediate part 32 are received within end member bore 48 and slot 52 respectively and preferably abut the inner surface of end wall 40. Shoulders 34 of the barrel preferably engage the marginal slot defining parts of top wall 44. End member 36 is preferably secured to barrel 12 by a screw 39 which is inserted through an aperture in the end wall 40 of the end member and threaded into forward end face 20 of the barrel at 41. End member 36 includes a projecting part 56 which extends downwardly from bottom wall 46 thereof and which is preferably centered below bore 48. Projecting part 56 has a transverse recess or slot 58, which is preferably V-shaped, formed in its forward marginal portion. A pair of lugs 60 project downwardly from bottom wall 46 of the end member. Lugs 60 are positioned at opposite sides of barrel 12 and are preferably equally laterally spaced from projecting part 56 of the end member. Each lug 60 preferably projects downwardly to the plane of the uppermost edge 59 of slot 58 in part 56 and preferably extends forwardly from end face 49 of the end member and terminates inwardly spaced from the innermost portion of slot 58.

At least one elongated elastic member 62, preferably formed of rubber, is secured to the forward end of barrel 12 by end member 36. Each elastic member 62 is preferably of elongated form and has an intermediate part 63 which is received in slot 30 in barrel bottom part 28 and opposed end parts 65 which extend rearwardly along opposite sides of the barrel. The ends of each elastic member 62 are joined above top part 16 of the barrel by a V-shaped wire connector 64. As an alternative, each elastic member 62 may be in the form of an endless rubberband. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, two elastic members 62 are utilized to propel the spear from the gun.

The forward end portion of stock 10 preferably has a longitudinal bore 70 formed therein which is continuous with groove 18 in barrel 12. Hand grip 14 is attached by any convenient means, such as screws 72, to the forward end portion of stock 10 and extends downwardly therefrom. Grip 14 includes a trigger 74 which is pivotally connected to the grip and which has a slot 76 therein defining forwardly projecting upper part 78 and lower part 79. Stock 10 has a lateral bore 80 therethrough which intersects longitudinal bore 70 and which has a reduced lower end portion 81 opening above upper part 78 of the trigger. A catch 84 is slidably received within lateral bore 80 and includes an upper end portion 86 and a lower end portion 88. Lower end portion 88 of the catch projects through an opening (not shown) in upper part 78 of the trigger and into slot 76 where it is secured therein preferably by a pin 90 inserted through lower end portion 88 and having end parts projecting laterally therefrom and engaging part 78 of the trigger. Catch 84 is biased upwardly, such as by a helical spring 92 in the manner shown, so that upper end portion 86 normally projects into bore 70. A cord holder 94 is preferably pivotally connected to grip l4 forwardly of and in substantially the same plane of swing as trigger 74. One end part of the cord holder 94 extends into slot 76 of the trigger and is preferably positioned between lower end portion 88 of catch 84 and lower part 79 of the trigger. The opposite end of the cord holder 94 extends forwardly and terminates in a normally exposed hook 96. As trigger 74 is pulled, the upper end portion 86 of the catch is withdrawn from bore 70 in the stock and hook 96 of the cord holder moves upwardly into the grip. A butt part 98 is preferably mounted over the end of the stock.

To load the spear gun, the shaft 22 of the spear is preferably inserted endwise into groove 18 at the forward end portion of the barrel. The spear shaft is then inserted rearwardly in groove 18 until the aft end of the spear shaft enters bore 70 in the stock and the upper end portion 86 of the catch 84 is received within groove 100 and releasably interlocks with the spear as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Spear shaft 22 preferably has a lateral groove 100 formed therein adjacent its aft end and a notch 102 formed therein forwardly of groove 100 for each elastic member 62. Each notch 102 is positioned at the opposite side of the shaft from groove 100. After the spear shaft is interlocked with catch 84, each elastic member 62 is stretched and the wire connector 64 is inserted into a notch [02. A collar 106 surrounds spear shaft 22 and is slidable thereon between the spear head 23 and a stop or projection 108 which is preferably located just forwardly of and longitudinally aligned with notches 102. Projection 108 is sized so as to pass with clearance between lips 26 of parts 24 at the forward end of the barrel. A cord 110 is provided for retrieving the spear after the firing of the gun. Cord 110 has one end attached to collar 106 and the other end preferably attached to projecting part 56 of end member 36. After the spear is interlocked with catch 84, cord 110 is coiled around projecting part 56 of the end member and hook 96 of the cord holder with the forward portion or bight of the coil being received within slot 58 of projecting part 56.

When trigger 76 is pulled, catch 84 is disengaged from the spear shaft 22, thereby freeing the spear, and hook 96 of the cord holder drawn into the handgrip, thereby freeing the rearward portion or bight of the cord coil. Thus freed, the cord coil swings downwardly and forwardly about projecting part 56 of the end member and the cord is fed out as the spear leaves the gun and proceeds to its target. Lugs 60 of end member 36 serve to prevent the cord 110 from becoming fouled with elastic members 62 as the spear leaves the gun and when the loaded gun is being carried underwater by the user.

What I claim is:

1. An underwater spear gun including a spear and having an elongated barrel supporting said spear, a catch releasably interlocked with said spear, a tensioned elastic member having one part carried at the forward end portion of said barrel and another part releasably engaging said spear, an end member mounted to the forward end portion of said barrel, a coiled spear retrieving cord having one end connected to said spear, trigger means operatively associated with said catch for causing said catch to release said spear upon actuation of said trigger means, said end member including a cord retainer part positioned below said one part of the elastic member, lug means attached to said end member positioned on opposite sides of said cord retainer part, said cord retainer part including a forward marginal portion having a recess therein, a hook carried by said trigger means, said cord having one coil portion received within said retainer part recess and another COll portion releasably supported by said hook, said trigger means being operatively associated with said hook so as to cause said hook to release its supported cord coil portion upon actuation of said trigger means, said lug means positioned rearwardly of said retainer part recess and extending downwardly from their attachments to the end member to the level of said retainer part recess so as to separate the elastic member from the cord after release of said spear by said catch,

2. The underwater weapon of claim 1 wherein the forward end portion of said barrel has a slot therein, said elastic member having an intermediate part received within said slot and side parts extending rearwardly from said intermediate part, said end member having a central bore which receives the forward end portion of said barrel and which is interrupted by opposed recesses, each elastic member side part being received within a said end member recess.

3. The underwater spear gun of claim 1 wherein said barrel has a longitudinal groove receiving said spear in sliding engagement, the groove-defining part of said barrel including oppositely spaced inwardly projecting lips at the forward end portion of said barrel, said lips partially overlying and encircling said spear. 

1. An underwater spear gun including a spear and having an elongated barrel supporting said spear, a catch releasably interlocked with said spear, a tensioned elastic member having one part carried at the forward end portion of said barrel and another part releasably engaging said spear, an end member mounted to the forward end portion of said barrel, a coiled spear retrieving cord having one end connected to said spear, trigger means operatively associated with said catch for causing said catch to release said spear upon actuation of said trigger means, said end member including a cord retainer part positioned below said one part of the elastic member, lug means attached to said end member positioned on opposite sides of said cord retainer part, said cord retainer part including a forward marginal portion having a recess therein, a hook carried by said trigger means, said cord having one coil portion received within said retainer part recess and another coil portion releasably supported by said hook, said trigger means being operatively associated with said hook so as to cause said hook to release its supported cord coil portion upon actuation of said trigger means, said lug means positioned rearwardly of said retainer part recess and extending downwardly from their attachments to the end member to the level of said retainer part recess so as to separate the elastic member from the cord after release of said spear by said catch.
 2. The underwater weapon of claim 1 wherein the forward end portion of said barrel has a slot therein, said elastic member having an intermediate part received within said slot and side parts extending rearwardly from said intermediate part, said end member having a central bore which receives the forward end portion of said barrel and which is interrupted by opposed recesses, each elastic member side part being received within a said end member recess.
 3. The underwater spear gun of claim 1 wherein said barrel has a longitudinal groove receiving said spear in sliding engagement, the groove-defining part of said barrel including oppositely spaced inwardly projecting lips at the forward end portion of said barrel, said lips partially overlying and encircling said spear. 